Relating Ligand Field Theory to Nickel Complex Color

Submitted by Joya Cooley / California State University, Fullerton on Tue, 06/28/2022 - 14:55
Description

This In-Class Activity is meant to follow up discussions of ligand field theory toward the end of MO theory including the effects of sigma donors, pi donors, and pi acceptors, and how it relates to absorption spectra and observed color of some transition metal complexes. Students have learned crystal field theory and the effects of geometry/symmetry on ∆, then we extend to LFT and how the chemistries of different ligands affect ∆.

VIPEr Fellows 2022 Workshop Favorites

Submitted by Barbara Reisner / James Madison University on Sun, 06/26/2022 - 14:31

The second cohort of VIPEr fellows pulled together learning objects that they've used and liked or want to try the next time they teach their inorganic courses.

SALC: An Orbital Arrangement Game

Submitted by Madalyn Radlauer / San Jose State University on Wed, 06/15/2022 - 00:13
Description

We have developed a tabletop game to help students get comfortable with symmetry adapted linear combinations of orbitals (SALCs), a conceptual model used to understand bonding in molecular orbital theory. We have found that students often get anxious about SALCs and miss not only the visual connections to symmetry, but also the fun! This LO includes information about the game, files you can use to print your own copy as well as a link in case you want to purchase a copy, and an example of how it might be incorporated into the classroom. 

Metal-Ligand Multiple Bonds: The Discovery of “Double Nickel” (Hillhouse)

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Wed, 06/01/2022 - 00:52
Description

This LO focuses on creating complexes with multiple bonds between late transition metals and nitrogen. The questions will guide students through Mindiola and Hillhouse's communication that details the synthesis and investigation of three-coordinate terminal amido and imido complexes of nickel. This communication is significant because it describes the synthesis and structural characterization of what became known as his "double nickel" complex, which contains a Ni-N double bond.  

Substitution Chemistry in Odd-Electron Iron Group Carbonyl Complexes (D'Acchioli)

Submitted by Nancy Williams / Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College on Sun, 05/29/2022 - 05:54
Description

This LO brings together organometallic chemistry, electrochemistry, and computational chemistry in a complete whole, and shows how these different expertises and techniques all can add to our understanding of a rich chemical system. It might be of particular interest in a class dominated by even-electron and diamagnetic chemistry to give students an understanding of how practitioners approach odd-electron, paramagnetic systems. 

Discussion of "Dirhodium(II/II)/NiO Photocathode for Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Red Light" (Turro)

Submitted by Jason D'Acchioli / University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Sat, 05/21/2022 - 12:13
Description

This Learning Object is dedicated to Prof. Claudia Turro as part of the VIPEr LGBTQIAN+ LO collection created in celebration of Pride Month (Jun) 2022. Prof. Turro was featured in the April 2022 special virtual issue Out in Inorganic Chemistry: A Celebration of LGBTQIAPN+ Inorganic Chemists (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00729). Claudia holds a special place in my heart. I came out later in life, and she was incredibly supportive as I wrestled with my identity as a gay man.

Mechanistic Study of Competitive sp3-sp3 and sp2-sp3 Carbon-Carbon Reductive Elimination from a Platinum(IV) Center and the Isolation of a C-C Agostic Complex (Williams)

Submitted by Shirley Lin / United States Naval Academy on Fri, 05/20/2022 - 08:09
Description

This literature discussion focuses on a J. Am. Chem. Soc. communication that describes a series of Pt complexes that exhibit competitive reductive elimination reactions to form either an sp2-sp3 bond or an sp3-sp3 bond. One of the complexes also contains a C-C agostic interaction with the metal. The questions are written to be addressed by students in a foundation-level inorganic course.